In the ’60s it took a mayor a plane across the ocean. This year it takes you $7.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest didn’t start in a beer tent. It started when Mayor Henry Maier flew to Munich, drank and ate with strangers across long wooden tables, and came home determined to build a similar event in his city, Milwaukee. That place is the lakefront festival park that now carries his name — and on October 2–4, 2026, it becomes the closest thing to Bavaria on this side of the Atlantic.
Kegel’s Inn, the West Allis landmark pouring and plating German hospitality since 1924, runs the kitchen. Swarmm Events, which has been producing this event in Milwaukee since 2010 runs the bar that includes Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner, imported from Munich. Brass bands, stein hoisting, and a wiener dog pageant handle everything else. Last year’s crowd put away over 4,500 sausages and 1,800 pretzels, so Kegel’s Inn and Swarmm Events have expanded the grounds this year — more food, more bars, more seating, more room at the table…